Wine & Beverages

Canarian Wines

Gran Canaria's viticulture has a tradition of over 500 years — even Shakespeare had his characters drink "Canary Sack." The vines grow on volcanic soils at altitudes up to 1,700 meters and are partly over 100 years old (phylloxera never reached the Canaries!). The result is unique, mineral wines with their own character.

Grape Varieties & Growing Areas

• Monte Lentiscal (D.O. Gran Canaria): The main growing area in the northeast of the island. Red wines from Listán Negro and Tintilla, white wines from Malvasía and Listán Blanco.
• San Mateo & Tejeda: High altitude (800–1,500 m) produces fresh, mineral wines.
• Special Grape Varieties: The Canarian grape varieties are often unique and extinct elsewhere — Baboso Negro, Vijariego, Marmajuelo, and Albillo Criollo can only be found here.

The wines of Gran Canaria are not mass-produced — production is small, quality is high, and prices are fair (bottle from €8 in supermarkets, from €12 in good wine shops). In restaurants: from €15 per bottle.

Rum (Ron)

Ron Arehucas is the quintessential Canarian rum — distilled in Arucas since 1884. The range includes Ron Blanco (white, for cocktails), Ron Miel (honey rum — sweet, sticky, and dangerously delicious!), and Ron Añejo 12 Años (aged premium rum). Ron Miel is THE souvenir from the Canaries — a bottle costs from €8 in supermarkets.

Other Beverages

• Barraquito: The typical Canarian coffee — espresso, condensed milk, frothed milk, Licor 43, lemon zest, and cinnamon, artfully layered in a glass. Addictive! From €2.50.
• Cortado: Espresso with a dash of milk — the standard coffee in the Canaries. From €1.20.
• Tropical: The local beer brand of the Canaries — a light, refreshing lager, perfect for the climate. Caña (0.25l) in restaurants: €1.50–2.50.
• Dorada: The beer from Tenerife — the eternal rival of Tropical. On Gran Canaria, you order Tropical (patriotism!).